title: Postpartum doula and peer telephone support for postpartum depression: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This research provides the first test of feasibility of recruiting postpartum doulas and depressed mothers for a peer support intervention study and begins to evaluate the benefit of postpartum doula support and peer telephone support for at-risk mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors recruited postpartum doulas from national doula organizations, peer telephone supporters from nursing referrals, and mothers with depressive symptoms from 3 local hospitals, local medical practices, Web sites, and community organizations. Participating mothers were randomized to 3 groups--postpartum doula, peer telephone support, and control group. Surveys were completed at 0, 3, and 6 months postenrollment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine mothers with depressive symptoms, 6 postpartum doulas, and 6 peer telephone supporters participated. The postpartum doula group, compared with the other 2 groups, had a higher proportion of women with a previous history of depression, and similarly, a higher proportion of women who were depressed and receiving depression treatment at the 6-month follow-up. Satisfaction with study-sponsored support was greater in the postpartum doula group than in the telephone support group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is feasible to recruit postpartum doulas, peer telephone supporters, and mothers with depressive symptoms for a peer support intervention trial. Mothers were more satisfied with postpartum doulas than peer telephone support. The authors recommend further research to assess the benefit of postpartum doula support for postpartum depression as adjunctive or alternative therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine & Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA. dgjerdin@umphysicians.umn.edu
authors.forename: Dwenda Kay
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Gjerdingen
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGovern
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D019052:Depression, Postpartum / Q000628:therapy*; D059037:Doulas; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009035:Mothers; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone
keywords: postpartum depression; postpartum doula; social support